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Sources: Test Scores: U.S. Dept of Education, National Center for Educational Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress
Percent Eligible for Free/Reduced-Priced Lunch: U.S. Dept of Education, Natl Ctr for Edu Stats, Digest of Education Statistics (2008)
Percent Eligible for Free/Reduced-Priced Lunch: U.S. Dept of Education, Natl Ctr for Edu Stats, Digest of Education Statistics (2008)
So What?
1) NAEP stands for National Assessment of Educational Progress and is a test taken by most public school students in 4th, 8th,
and 12 th grade as required by the U.S. Department of Education. The tests cover numerous subjects, including reading and
mathematics.
2) This is a measure of math and reading proficiency of public school 8th graders in 2005 compared to the percent of students
in the state eligible for free or reduced-price lunches as part of the federal School Lunch Program; an indicator of poverty.
3) Eligibility for free or reduced lunches is generally available for families with incomes below 130% or 185% of the federal
poverty guideline. In the 2008-09 school year, the federal poverty level is $21,200 annual for a family of four in the 48
contiguous states, somewhat higher for Alaska and Hawaii. (See USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, National School Lunch
Program, Income Eligibility Requirements).
4) One notes very good correlation between the sum of student math and reading scores and the percent of students in a state
eligible for the National School Lunch Program. The more poor students, the lower the sum of reading and math test scores.
5) At the high end of the distribution, Massachusetts, with about 28% of students eligible for the lunch program achieves test
scores totaling about 565. With approximately the same prevalence of poverty, several states, including VT, NJ, CT, MN, ND, WI,
are only able to achieve test scores totaling as low as 545.
6) Similarly, toward the middle of the distribution, Oregon achieves a total score of 545, while states like AZ, NV, and HI, with
similar poverty profile, only achieve totals as low as 515.
7) Interestingly, Mississippi, with the highest percent poverty at about 69%, achieves the same total test score as NM, AL, and HI,
which have much lower average poverty levels.
8) See reading scores separated from math in Reading Scores vs. Poverty by State.
9) See math scores separated from reading in Math Scores vs. Poverty by State.
1) NAEP stands for National Assessment of Educational Progress and is a test taken by most public school students in 4th, 8th,
and 12 th grade as required by the U.S. Department of Education. The tests cover numerous subjects, including reading and
mathematics.
2) This is a measure of math and reading proficiency of public school 8th graders in 2005 compared to the percent of students
in the state eligible for free or reduced-price lunches as part of the federal School Lunch Program; an indicator of poverty.
3) Eligibility for free or reduced lunches is generally available for families with incomes below 130% or 185% of the federal
poverty guideline. In the 2008-09 school year, the federal poverty level is $21,200 annual for a family of four in the 48
contiguous states, somewhat higher for Alaska and Hawaii. (See USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, National School Lunch
Program, Income Eligibility Requirements).
4) One notes very good correlation between the sum of student math and reading scores and the percent of students in a state
eligible for the National School Lunch Program. The more poor students, the lower the sum of reading and math test scores.
5) At the high end of the distribution, Massachusetts, with about 28% of students eligible for the lunch program achieves test
scores totaling about 565. With approximately the same prevalence of poverty, several states, including VT, NJ, CT, MN, ND, WI,
are only able to achieve test scores totaling as low as 545.
6) Similarly, toward the middle of the distribution, Oregon achieves a total score of 545, while states like AZ, NV, and HI, with
similar poverty profile, only achieve totals as low as 515.
7) Interestingly, Mississippi, with the highest percent poverty at about 69%, achieves the same total test score as NM, AL, and HI,
which have much lower average poverty levels.
8) See reading scores separated from math in Reading Scores vs. Poverty by State.
9) See math scores separated from reading in Math Scores vs. Poverty by State.
Reading+Math Scores vs. Poverty by State
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